Ian Garnett (1945-2001)

Ian Garnett, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, March 3, 2001, after a brief illness. He was 55 years old. 

Ian joined the Animal Science faculty in 1990 with the charge to develop a professional master's degree program in animal management. He was instrumental in establishing a joint program with the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, called the Master of Agriculture and Management (MAM) degree program, from which 25 students have graduated. He also accepted a heavy load of undergraduate teaching and advising, including at various times teaching our high-enrollment introductory animal science courses. In recent years, Ian served as editor of this newsletter, Highlights, which is sent to alumni and friends across the country and around the world. 

Born in England, Ian grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. He obtained a B.S. degree in agriculture in 1968 and a masters degree in genetics in 1970, both from the University of British Columbia. He was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to study for the Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh, completing that degree in 1973 under the guidance of Professor Douglas Falconer. He then joined Agriculture Canada in Brandon, Manitoba, as a research scientist in swine breeding, a position he held until 1977, when Cargill, Ltd. recruited him. He was with Cargill for 13 years, serving consecutively as marketing specialist, manager of Cargill hybrid swine, manager of livestock operations and as general manager of Cargill's swine products division. The last of these involved a move to the U.S. in 1986, where he assumed responsibility for more than 160 production units in five states 

His combination of excellent academic credentials and extensive management experience in industry represented uniquely valuable qualifications for these positions, which he filled with notable success. A genuine love for teaching and working with students and an unfailingly optimistic attitude were equally important to his outstanding achievement as an administrator and teacher at UC Davis. Graduates of the MAM program hold important positions in agriculture in California and in other states and countries. In 1999 he was recognized as the Outstanding Faculty Advisor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He helped to develop and teach several new courses that integrated a management component with production technologies, and was the prime mover in initiation of a Field Trips course that took students to production operations in the state, which he personally led the past two years. 

In addition to fulfilling his formal responsibilities with distinction, Ian was an outstanding departmental citizen and colleague, making positive contributions to many of the department's activities. He enlivened departmental parties with his whirlwind dancing. He was known for his wonderful wit and sense of humor and will be remembered for his good nature and love of family and friends. 

Ian is survived by his wife Eleanore of Davis, son Stewart of Roseville, daughters Lindsay of Sacramento and Christa of Davis; his mother, Lena Garnett, sister Jill Terpstra, nephew Robert and niece Kelly, all of Vancouver, B.C., and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. 

In his memory, the Ian Garnett Scholarship and Award Fund has been established. Checks may be made payable to the UC Regents and sent to the Animal Science Department, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.